Egyptian considered 'world's heaviest woman' dies in UAE hospital

Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty, once reputed as the world’s heaviest woman has died in a United Arab Emirates (UAE) facility where she was receiving treatment.

The 37-year-old Egyptian was previously reported to have lost over half of her initial weight put at 500kg. A hospital statement said she had died of heart disease and kidney dysfunction. “Our prayers and heartfelt condolences go out to her family,” the statement added.

She was moved to the UAE facility from an Indian hospital where she underwent surgery earlier this year. The Saifee Hospital in the Mumbai confirmed in April this year that Eman was to be moved to the UAE to continue her recovery after the groundbreaking weight-loss surgery.

The hospital at the time described her surgery as a ‘proud moment in Indian medical history,’ and that as at when she was leaving India her weight had dropped to 176.6 kg.

She weighed 500 kg in September last year and she arrived in India on a chartered cargo plane but flew out of the country as a passenger in Business Class.

“The team of doctors at Saifee Hospital has done a fabulous job and her recovery has been unprecedented. She is stable and all parameters are under control. She will continue to need neurological rehabilitation and physiotherapy,” head of the Saifee hospital’s bariatric surgecy section said.

In explaining the decision to move her to the UAE, Dr. Aparna Bhasker said, ‘‘As the treatment here concludes she is being shifted to Burjeel hospital in UAE (A hospital initially introduced to the family by Dr. Lakdawala).

“Secondary physiotherapy will continue over there as it is closer to home for Eman and her family,” he added. He described Eman as an inspiration to critically obese persons around the world and added that they wished her well.